The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-28
MAP.MAKER JAY GOULD.
A Few Leaves from tho Early Experiences
the Young Surveyor.

A Few Leaves from tho Early Experiences Of
the Young Surveyor.
Albany IN. " Special.
A few memories of jay Gould, or. as he was
then known, Jason Gould, still survive amone
the old residents Of this city. In 1852 or there
abouts, there came a visit to his uncle, D. t.
Moore, a small dark looking country lad from
Ulster county. He was quiet not remarkably
attractive looking but vouched for by his uncle
AS a capable and promising boy, Mr.. Moore was q
farmer and lived just at the northern bounds OF
the city. and when he introduced young Jason to
friends he was made welcome. firm at mer-
chants with whom Mr.. Moore traded took kindly
to Jason, and he made their store his headquar-
ters for some two years These gentlemen he
longed to one of the old Dutch families, and had
vast tracts of land in that part OF Albany county,
which, under the new division, became Sara
toga. A plat of ground. known as the Sanders
grant, was surveyed and laid out map
which was used to locate the lots In 1883 AT
the time of Jason's residence in Albany the old
map had become very diapidated, and at the
request of Mr.. Sanders he made a now one.
That one the writer saw yesterday. It is we'll
done and shows marks of the thoroughness that
is so we'll known those who in later years
have dealt in his various securities. The hand
writing the different farms marked off has
all the neatness that characterzes his later pen
nanship. There was an omission that gives
play TO the imagination. The date is juno 10
The year 10 left blank. 1t is signed by Gould
& Moore, the latter being a son of D. T. Moore
and a cousin OF Jason. On the top of the map
is rough sketch of eagle with quite an
armory of talons. AS ornament IL lis decid-
eddy failure, but as a prophetic symbol 1t Is a
marked success.
One citizen said that in all his intercourse
with Jason. and 1t was with pleasant lingering
on the second syllable that he pronounced the
name, he found him strictly honorable. He
said he would occasionally borrow So, saying he
wanted it for a few days and pity returned
it. He was industrious and quiet. but very
skipful in his business land surveyor.
He boarded with his Uncle Moore. Some time
in 1853 he suggested to his cousin. j. e. Moore,
that they should make a map of Albany county.
After much consideration they finally concluded
be a good opening for bis son, loaned
the boy $500, and they went to work.
The result was very creditabie map.
for which Gould received $4,000. One of my
informants told that when he saw the map for
the first time it was in Gould's presence. and,
noticing the fine dwellings that surrounded it.
ACCORDING to Ethe fashion OF county maps, he
said: why. Jason, Mr.. BE house is not
tenth part as handsome as this" To which Ja-
replied at is easy to make them look nice
paper" This might be dedicated to the hold
ers of Wabash and Texas Pacific stock with the
legend: 1.-THE boy is father of the man."
About this map some curious stories are told.
The that has the widest circulation is as fol-
lows: When the map was nearly completed
it. He went to his cousin and said: The map
is nearly completed. You give 5000 and
pay your father $500 and L will part with my
interest" His cousin. who was not
and said: II can't do that Where shall
get $700l" Gould replied: II will give You
5000 and pay the note of $500" Young Moore
accepted the offer and Jay Gould was s.. 300 the
winner. What truth there is in this story do
no. know. 1t was told me by man who said
he had frequently heard it from j. B. Moore
himself Repeating it to an old citizen to-day,
he said: THAT explains something that used to
puzzle me. Up to the time of that map bust
ness Mr.. Moore could not speak too highly OF his
nephew. but after he was very bitter"